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NYC COMIC CON: DragonBall Z: Battle of Z hands on

October 13, 2013Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

There has been many Dragon Ball Z video games but this one is a twist from the past games. I would say that the last great Dragon Ball Z video game was DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (also this game holds the world record for the most playable characters in a fighting video game) that has changed the series, but the upcoming Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z turned out to be full of surprises.

This game is the first in the series to introduce multiple characters fighting in one screen.

There are four different battle types for playable characters:

Fighting Type: skilled at close combat, can combo with melee attacks. Attack Type moves are Kaio-ken Attack, Dance of the Sword, Recoome Kick.
Ki Blast Type: skilled at long range battle, can make consecutive attacks using the GENKI Gauge. Ki Blast Type moves are Consecutive Energy Blast, Death Beam, Spirit Ball.
Support Type: powers such as health regeneration and support abilities. Support Type moves are Health Regain Blast, Fighting Pose.
Interference Type: adept at abilities that interfere with the enemy’s movements. Interference Type moves are Solar Flare, Chocolate Beam, Drain Energy.

There is a system that allows players to modify characters using ability cards. By collecting and equipping cards, characters that might not be suited to battle can be boosted to make them more capable. Alternatively, they can be given abilities that make their natural strengths more pronounced.

I was using team Goku to go against team Cell. The controls were kind of stiff but I guess the developers will fix it around in the coming months. The animations and attention to detail is great, too, along with the tricky AI, which is very responsive to the commands and power up attacks. The playable characters can be victorious at high-speed battles on the ground and in the air. The game’s key feature is team battle action of four versus four. Teammates share a special energy meter called GENKI Gauge: this meter increases when attacking opponents and, when filled, an ultimate attack can be performed. As I said about the battle types before, it works for situations where you would like to get the upper hand on you’re opponent. When you’re allies perform the different actions, it gave me a split second to think of what to do next and how to attack the opponents by surprise. Any of the allies can decide to give or use energy from the gauge in order to perform an attack. Playable characters can team up to perform techniques such as Synchro Rush, Meteor Chain, and Revive Soul.

Overall, this game looks great and it plays very well. I will get a copy once it releases on March 31, 2014 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PS Vita.

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31 days of Halloween: Movie Review. Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers

October 13, 2013Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

Julian Cannon is back again for another movie review. Since October is Halloween, I have a movie review right here, a comedy horror movie that came out in 1988. Here’s one of my favorites, Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers.

The first ‘Sleepaway Camp’ is a little bit notorious. It’s not a classic, but the twist ending had people talking and does set it apart. Rather than do the tasteful thing and just leave that story be, there had to be a sequel, set years later. This is known as ‘Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers.’ If you didn’t see the first movie and don’t know the twist in it, please stop reading.

Male campers are sitting around a fire telling ghost stories with one female camper who snuck away from her cabin. Head counselor Angela (Pamela Springsteen) scolds the girl and walks her back toward camp, though she is given attitude. Angela then beats the girl over the head with a log, killing her. The next day, the girl’s disappearance is explained by Angela saying that she “sent her home.” This is a recurring theme as the campers begin to disappear one by one when they break camp rules and misbehave.

Will anyone be around by the end of summer? Will Angela continue to impose her morality-driven wrath upon these dumb teens? Will someone show me how to set up a tent?

There is absolutely little suspense to this film but a lot of the death scenes, made me laugh my ass off. You know right before the opening credits that Angela has returned from the first story, that she is in a position of power and that she is back to killing people. It’s hard to say how else this could have been handled, if you wanted to retain the character. Perhaps the best way to look at this is to think of it as a case of the audience knowing more than the characters.

This seems to be as much a comedy as a slasher horror movie, but I will let that slide since the humor is right up to today’s standard even though the movie came out in 1988. There are some goofy pranks and winks to the audience along with some strong references to other popular horror movies of the time. The tone is way sillier and easygoing than the original. Some real thrills and surprises would have been nice, but that would have been too ambitious.

Some of the lines are horrible and some of the acting is good in my point of view. Most of the campers represent different forms of bad behavior: drugs, sex, mean pranks, being disrespectful, etc. While killing them is completely uncalled for and crossing the line, there is a sick justification for Angela’s actions. Angela’s one-liners are a tad unwelcome, though in many people’s eyes but for me, I thought it was hilarious.

The violence is reasonably high though some of it is off-camera. We do get a lot of aftermath and a decent volume, especially by the end. There are some fairly original killings, as improbable as many of them seem to be.

Speaking of the ending, it just sort of happens. We get some big developments and confrontations, but a lot is sped through and after the climax, it all seems rushed. When the movie is barely 80 minutes, isn’t there a few extra minutes to show us one or two things and to have a less random ending? It’s not ironic or clever.

Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers has a lot of below-average acting, even for the era and the genre. There is nothing shocking here like there was (relatively) in the original. If you want a straightforward slasher-comedy set at a summer camp and if you don’t mind a plot that doesn’t make a lot, this is a bad movie that fans of the series could find some mild enjoyment from. I was never a fan of the series but something about the this movie made me decide to watch the prequel and sequel. For some reason, all 3 of the movies had a cult following and I can see why. From the cheesy acting to the humor and the questionable one liners, that was basic for most comedy horror flicks in the 1980’s. I went to summer camp every year until I was 13 back in Texas and I never had a horror story when it was the end of the 3 week visit. Then again, I do not want her as my camp counselor ever. My final rating for this movie is a 6.5/10 since I enjoyed it.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_UlTSlJ0D0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_UlTSlJ0D0

NYC COMIC CON: Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn Hands On

October 13, 2013Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

Julian Cannon back for a new post and it is straight from this year’s New York Comic Con. Final Fantasy 14 : A Realm Reborn was shown today and I have tried it for the first time today.

The first thing I have noticed was that the interface and the movement speed is much faster than Final Fantasy 11. Everything just flows in motion as there is no moments of a slowdown. When I landed a few attacks on a few enemies, the game never transitioned to normal free roam to battle mode. It was similar to Final Fantasy 12’s battle system where you can attack and cast spells and use items all at once without having to take away the battle screen. This was something that Final Fantasy 11 did not have.

Another great thing about the game is that, unlike in Final Fantasy 11, there is pvp (player vs player) after a certain level you reach with your character. You can also store and select the abilities you want to use however way you want to during battle. The version I played was the PC version that was on display and there was no signs of lagging or glitching. I was playing with 8 people at once doing a boss battle event and we all won with double EXP for the party for the hour. Once I get the playstation 4, then I will play this game in full swing.

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FELD ENTERTAINMENT AND MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT UNVEIL EXCLUSIVE NEW DETAILS ON MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! – THE ULTIMATE MARVEL ARENA SPECTACULAR – AT NEW YORK COMIC-CON

October 12, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

Explosive Trailer, Official Show Logo and Creative Team Revealed for Next Summer’s Must-See Marvel Live Action Event

New York, NY – October 12, 2013 – Today at New York Comic-Con, Juliette Feld, executive vice president and producer with Feld Entertainment, unveiled the first sneak peek of next year’s groundbreaking arena spectacular: Marvel Universe LIVE!, produced by Feld Entertainment. During Marvel’s signature “Cup O’ Joe” panel, Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada introduced Ms. Feld for a surprise presentation about this highly anticipated Marvel live action arena event. Ms. Feld premiered the show’s first teaser trailer, providing a tantalizing taste of the cavalcade of Super Heroes to be featured and insight into the original story, and then revealed the official Marvel Universe LIVE! logo. In conjunction with the Comic-Con appearance, Feld Entertainment also introduced the creative team tasked with developing this monumental live entertainment Marvel experience.

“For Marvel Universe LIVE!, we have assembled an accomplished creative team to develop these characters in a truly authentic production for the millions of Marvel fans around the world,” said Juliette Feld. “This touring event will be the most technically advanced live show to date, and will bring the Marvel Universe and its bigger-than-life Super Heroes and Super Villains to life before a live audience for the first time.”

Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada added, “Marvel Universe LIVE! is going to blow people’s minds. I have personally been involved and collaborating with the unmatched talent and expertise of the Feld team. The way in which they will be bringing the Marvel Universe to life is truly mesmerizing and there is no doubt in my mind it will be a can’t miss event for Marvel fans of all ages. I am excited to have the opportunity to share the show’s vision first with our die-hard fans at New York Comic Con.”

Producers Kenneth Feld and Juliette Feld have tapped an award-winning creative team for next year’s preeminent live event. Two-time Emmy award-winner Shanda Sawyer (“Rock ‘N Reality Special,” Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®) will serve as director, and is joined by brother and sister writing duo Adam Wilson (“What’s Important is Feeling: Stories,” “Flatscreen: A novel”) and Melanie Wilson LaBracio. Andy Armstrong, stunt coordinator for the 2011 blockbuster film “Marvel’s Thor,” functions as action and stunt coordinator, while television and live show veteran Joe Stewart (“The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Magic of David Copperfield”) will lead set design. The vision for the Marvel Universe LIVE! costume design will be guided by Cynthia Nordstrom, whose projects have included Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and several off-Broadway productions. Norm Schwab (Imagine Dragons ‘Night Moves’ Tour, Kid Rock ‘Best Night Ever’ Tour), lighting designer, and Bob Bonniol (Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando, Electric Zoo NYC), video content and system designer, round out the team.

Marvel Universe LIVE! will bring Marvel’s most iconic heroes and fearsome villains to life like never before during a live-action arena spectacular that will tour 85 North American cities in its first two years. Officially kicking off in July 2014, Marvel Universe LIVE! will redefine the live show experience by integrating a Marvel character driven story with state-of-the-art special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts and countless other show elements.

Access embeddable videos of Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe LIVE! Comic-Con reveals and an image of the official show logo at www.MarvelUniverseLive.com.

Keep up to date on all the exciting developments of Marvel Universe LIVE! through the show’s vast array of social channels:

Facebook — www.facebook.com/MarvelOnTour

Twitter — @MarvelOnTour

twitter.com/MarvelOnTour

@Juliette Feld (show’s producer twitter feed)

YouTube — www.youtube.com/MarvelOnTour

Instagram– @MarvelOnTour

instagram.com/MarvelOnTour

Google+: — http://gplus.to/MarvelOnTour

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz^®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com. More information on Marvel Universe LIVE! can be found at www.marveluniverselive.com.

About Marvel Entertainment, LLC

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit marvel.com.

PRIEST & M.D. BRIGHT Reunite for New QUANTUM AND WOODY Mini-Series – Coming in 2014 from VALIANT

October 12, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

PRIEST & M.D. BRIGHT Reunite for New QUANTUM AND WOODY Mini-Series – Coming in 2014 from VALIANT

Valiant is proud to announce that Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright, the acclaimed creators of Quantum and Woody, will reunite for Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody – an all-new, five-issue mini-series bringing the original world’s worst superhero team into the 21st century!

Set wholly in the original continuity of Priest and Bright’s groundbreaking Acclaim Comics series, the new mini – which represents the return of both creators to monthly comics – will pick up in the modern day, launching an older Quantum and Woody into an all-new adventure set 20 years after the events of their original series.

“Soon as Doc and I started hashing out the plotline, we got into a huge argument. It was just like old times. Happy to be back on the goat,” said Priest.

“It’s enormously exciting to have Priest and Doc return to the iconic characters they made famous,” said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. “Over the years, the legend of the original series has only grown, and they’re about to unleash a fearless new chapter in the lives of Quantum and Woody.”

Whatever happened to the world’s worst superhero team? Twenty years past their prime, the unlikely crime-fighting duo known as Quantum and Woody have long since parted ways and retired…until a middle-aged Quantum suddenly reappears with a brand-new teenage partner—and his wisecracking ex-best friend gets mad. Now Woody is out to break up the all-new, all-different Quantum and Woody and put an end to Quantum’s recklessness and child endangerment…just as Quantum sets out to bring down a shadowy, globe-spanning agency of freelance spies and assassins. As Quantum’s plan crumbles right through Woody’s fingers, will the former friends set aside their differences…and their age…and their numerous health difficulties…to join forces one last time without driving each other crazy?

A veteran writer and editor with more than 35 years experience in the comic book industry, Christopher J. Priest has written nearly every major character in comics, with notable runs on series including Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Conan the Barbarian, Deadpool, and many more.

M.D. Bright began his career in comics in 1978 and has worked consistently on some of the industry’s most popular and enduring titles ever since. One of the all-time definitive artists of Green Lantern, Iron Man, and G.I. Joe, Bright has also contributed to Batman, Captain America, Thor, Wonder Woman and countless others.

Q2: THE RETURN OF QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 (of 5)

Written by PRIEST

Art & Covers by M.D. BRIGHT

COMING IN 2014!

NYCC: protection and safety

October 11, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

I never thought in a million years I’d have to write a post about education of safety for Comic Con attendees. Yet, unfortunately, here I am sitting on a crowded Brooklyn bound G train doing just that.

As of late, a lot of sexual harassment claims are being reported from Comic Cons around the US. One claim was of a man who strapped a Hero 2 (GoPro) camera to his chest and filmed himself hugging female Cosplayers.

Lets, first off, talk about something everyone needs to be clear and up front about. Please, please, I beg of you, DO NOT HUG STRANGERS! I don’t care if the sign they are carrying says free hugs or not. Keep your body to yourself and/or people you know and feel safe around. The “free hug” signs are there to have strangers try to touch others, this is not safe.

Unwanted attention can be hard to avoid at the larger Cons like SDCC and NYCC, which are hugely packed and crowded. Also, as of late, not all attendees are actual fans of comics and pop culture. Some people (sad but true) treat it like a freak show.

People use the Con to film and ridicule our collective fan base and plaster it all over the internet for the non-enlightened to laugh and mock at. Do not engage in any conversations with people who may seem off, not dressed for the con, or are very rude and aggressive.

Unfortunately, profiling the “non-geeks” seems wrong and being a sub-culture who was mocked for being different, we really don’t want to profile the fan from the gawkers. Yet, in the end, safety comes first! Always remember that, more than likely, they will treat our sub-culture as a joke and mock or exploit you.

It’s very hard to expect help from volunteers and/or convention staff. They are only there to corral the huddled masses or if you are lost and need direction or see if you have badges. Instead of depending on staff, seek out uniformed police.

Booth people and Cosplayers, please try your best not to be left alone, and, if at all possible, try to travel with friends. If you are at your booth or on the show floor, have a friend or fellow Cosplayer with you. It sounds scary (and perhaps a bit idiotic) but, in the end, humans in small or large groups aren’t always on their best behavior.

These seem like complex and unnecessary measures and maybe I am being the “scared parent,” but I have heard too many horror stories at the big cons and have seen too many jerks make wrong and unprofessional comments.

Be it GenCon’s Nazi paraphernalia or underwear that have printed phrases like “nothing wrong with a little sexual harassment” or idiots trying to take up skirt shots on escalators.

Regardless of occasional incidents, Comic Cons are really awesome, fun and downright enjoyable. Just take some precautions from this cynical old school New Yorker .

Agree or disagree? let me know, follow me on Twitter @AltMindz .

DVD Review: Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising

October 7, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

So thanks to Shout Factory, we received an advance DVD review of Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising the movie. We, here at Alternative Mindz, have been huge supporters of the Prime series on Hub channel so we were especially excited when this showed up on our doorstep. This DVD release is supposed to bridge the gap of the series and help tie up any loose ends.

(Below we will slightly spoil events of the series and movie)

The movie takes place on a barren wasteland once known as Cybertron.
Optimus Prime, with fellow Autobots Arcee, Wheel Jack, Bulk Head, Ultra Mahmud and Bumble Bee (who got his voice box back), are trying to restore Cybertron and bring home all refugees.

Optimus and Wheel Jack set out to find the AllSpark, leaving Ultra Magnus and the rest to search out Cybertron for any survivors. In their search, they find Predaking, the once mighty leader of the Predacons.

He is in no mood after his defeat on Earth. We soon find that Starscream and Shockwave are cloning remains of fallen Predacons.

This film has everything you need and everything you love about the Prime series. I don’t want to spoil too much, but a great evil returns and, in a weird way, is an homage to the 1986 TF film.

I give Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Movie a 4.5/5 and everyone needs to buy this film when it comes out.

This amazing DVD has a behind the scenes featurette and is available on Blu Ray tomorrow.

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Follow Shout Factory on Twitter @ShoutFactory

Japan the Otaku show: taste figures

October 4, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

This picture is from Danny Choo’s website and was taken during Wonder Festival 2013.

Check out the full set of images here

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Follow Danny on Twitter @DannyChoo

The Legend of Korra: Book 2 review

October 2, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

So, I finally sat down and watched the first three chapters of Book Two. I have to say that the hype is well worth it. Book One felt so “not” like the original series, that it was a bit off putting.

Coming into Book Two, we are finally getting to see where this series is going and how it will evolve into something unique and different.

This new season has so much build up and yet still finds time to remind loyal fans why they loved the Last Airbender.
The silliness and room for jokes/comic relief fit in and is never forced.

This season finds our new Avatar, Korra, traveling back to her roots in the Southern Water tribe where we finally see more of her family and how differences in opinions fuel a civil war with the Northern Water tribe.

Yet there is one more new element added to this series and that is of the Spirits. This is so inspired by Miyazaki and the themes in Princess Mononoke, there is no way that it is not intentional, at all.

This new factor makes this season stand on its own two legs. I still have issues with the lead, Korra, though. Her mood swings are so sharp that I find myself not wanting to cheer for her. I know she is a teenager, a young lady coming into her own.

Maybe that is the issue? There could be a better balance of teenage angst and her duty as the current Avatar? Her supporting characters are so well thought out that they seem to be the main focus to me. I hope all this teen rage turns out to reinforce Korra into the best Avatar we have ever seen.

I give the first three chapters of Book two a solid 3/5. Watch it every week on Nickelodeon.

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The Simpsons: 25 Seasons of TV’s First Family

October 2, 2013Rob Leave a Comment

The Simpsons: 25 Seasons of TV’s First Family

It’s a hard fact to think about, but The Simpson’s have been on the air now for 25 seasons. And if you count the shorts from Tracy Ullman’s show, they have been apart of our lives now for 26 years.

They may not hold the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest running animated series, but they hold up their own quite well.

Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge, Maggie and all their friends and neighbors in Springfield have entertained us and shown us that there is nothing that can’t be said or done without a good laugh.

Just like Family Guy and all the past and current crop of TV animated families, The Simpsons may not be the first (that honor goes to the Flintstones), but they have achieved greater status in the eyes of all who watch.

So as season 25 starts, let’s all spend time reflecting on a series that has amassed more than 500 episodes. We may not love all of them, but as long as ratings are there and awards keep coming, I hope to see The Simpsons make it for another 30+ seasons.

Not as though you need to be told, but new episodes of The Simpson’s air every Sunday on Fox.

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